Rowing-gear.



A. J. HERWEG.

ROWING GEAR. I APPLICATION FILED MAY19, 1231s.

1,086,172. Patentgad Feb. 3, 1914.

' INVENTO 2 Atlorney WITNESSES UNITED STATES PATENT OFFIGE].

ALOYS J. HERWVEG, or CHICAGO, ILLriIoIs.

ROWING-GEAR.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALoYs J. HERWEG, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Rowing- Gears, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to oars which are constructed to permit the operator to face in the direction the boat is traveling.

It is the object of the invention to provide a bow-facing car which can also be operated in the same manner as an ordinary oar, and to this end the invention consists in a novel combination and arrangement of parts to be hereinafter described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawing forming a part of this specification, Figure 1 is a plan view of the oar and the support thereof. Fig. 2 is a side elevation partly in section. Fig. 3 is a horizontal section on the line 33 of Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a cross section on the line 44 of Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the car look. Fig. 6 is a perspective view of a modified form of car lock.

Referring specifically to the drawing the car is in two sections, to wit: an outer or blade section 10, and an inner or handle section 11. The adjacent ends of the sections are mounted in metal sleeves, the sleeve of the section 10 being indicated at 12 and the sleeve of the section 11 at 13. These two sleeves are connected by a universal joint 14, and the oar sections are made fast in the sleeves. On the inner face of the gunwale 15 of the boat is mounted an oar-lock comprising a base 16 having an enlargement 17 on its face, which enlargement has a vertical socket 18, square in cross section. The enlargement also has a bearing in which is swiveled a tapered plug 19 having a square socket 20.

Fig. 6 shows a modified form of oar-lock 21, the same being shaped so that it may be sunk into the top of the gunwale. The oarlock is designed to support a fork 22 carrying a base 23, which latter, in turn, carries bearings 24 in which the sleeves 12 and 13 are mounted. The bearings 24 are in the form of sleeves in which the sleeves 12 and 13 are rotatably and slidably mounted. The

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed May 19, 1913.

rammed Feb. 3, 1914.

Serial No. 768,536.

permit adjustment of the sleeve in the bearing and thus vary the sweep of the oar. The sleeve 12 is free to slide and turn in its bearing. The bearings 24 have base portions 26 which seat on the base 23 and have depending stems 27, which are swiveled in the latter. Nuts 28 screwed on the stems, below the base 23, prevent the stems from slipping out. The base 23 is pivoted intermediate its ends between the branches of the fork 22, as indicated at 27. The stem 29 of the fork is adapted to be inserted into the sockets 18 or 20 as will be presently described.

By making the oar in two sections, connectecl as hereinbefore described, and providing swiveled bearings for the sections, the rower may face the boat in the direction it is traveling, and as the sleeves carrying the car sections are rotatable in their bearings, the oar may be rotated to feather the same. The pivotal support for the base 23 enables the oar to be dipped and raised. For bow-facing, the fork stem 29 will be inserted into the socket 18 in which it is held against rotation, thus preventing the base 23 from swinging around. The socket 20 is intended to be used if the oar is not to be bowfaced, and for this purpose, means are provided for locking the bearings 24 to prevent rotation thereof. The locking means com prise latch rods 30 mounted on top of the base 23 and passing through apertures 31 in raised portions 32 of said base on which the base portions 26 of the bearings 24 seat. The stems 27 have apertures 33 into which the latch-rods are adapted to be inserted, whereby the bearings are locked and thus held against rotary movement. At the middle of the base 23 is pivotally mounted an operating device for the latch-rods, said device comprising a lever 34 to which the inner ends of the latch-rods are connected. Upon turning the lever the latch-rods are advanced or retracted to lock or release the bearings. When the bearings 24 are locked the oar may be used in the same manner as an ordinary oar, the sections being locked in alinement, and the plug 19.. serving as the fulcrum of the car. The oar may also be dipped and raised, and feathered as before.

I claim:

1. A rowing gear comprising a base,bearings having apertured stems which are swiveled in the base, latch-rods carried by the base and adapted to enter the apertures of the bearing stems to lock the same, jointed sleeves loosely mounted in the bearings, oar sections secured respectively in the sleeves, and an oar-lock supporting the base, said oar-lock having means for pivotally supporting the base when the aforesaid bearings are locked.

2. A rowing gear comprising a base, bearings swiveled in the base, jointed sleeves loosely mounted in the bearings, oar-sections secured respectively in the sleeves, means for locking the bearings against rotation, and an oar-lock supporting the base, said oar-lock carrying a swiveled plug having a socket for supporting the base when the aforesaid bearings are locked.

In testimony whereof I ailix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

ALOYS J. HERWEG.

Fitnesses H. G. BATGHELOR, S. J. LEHRER.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents Washington, I). G. 

